Portable aluminum fence construction



Oct. 22, 1963' QR DE 'PAOL' 3,107,900

PORTABLE ALUMINUM FENCE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1961 ,5 Sheets-Shee11 1 INVENTOR. GERARD FR. DE PAOLO Oct. 22, 1963- R. DE PAOLO PORTABLE ALUMINUM FENCE CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April's, 1961 I rllflllflllflflfll l nwans IA 7/]. 'IIIIIIIIIIIJ INVENTOR. GERARD R. DE PAOLO Oct. 22, 963 G- R- DE PAOLO" v 3,107,900

PORTABLE AL UMINUM FENCECO-NSTRUCTION Filed April 5, 1961 I I v :s Sheets-Sheet a INVENTORQ GERARD R. DE PAOLO W ATTJEME'? United States Patent lei-say Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,105 2 Claims. (Cl. 25665) This invention concerns a novel fence construction.

According to the invention there are provided hollow posts having one or more blocks mounted thereon to receive the ends of hollow rails in friction-fitting joints. The posts may be made of metal such as aluminum, of plastic or of composition material. The blocks may be integrally formed with the posts or may be attached thereto by bolts or the like. The blocks and rails are preferably noncircular in cross section so that the rails do not turn on the blocks. The posts and rails may be fabricated in any desired lengths and may be cut to size as required. The blocks may be mounted on the posts to form supports and connectors for rails at corners and at intermediate points at straight courses of the fence. Where spaced parallel rails are employed, they can be connected by chain link wire mesh, grills or the like. A primary purpose of the invention is to provide a fence construction which permits the fence to be quickly assembled with prefabricated posts and rails in such a manner that the fence can be readily disassembled and then reassembled when required.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a fence construction including a plurality of vertical posts with radially extending blocks interfitted with a plurality of horizontally disposed rails.

A further object is to provide a fence construction of the character described wherein the blocks and rails are non-circular in cross section.

Another object is to provide as an article of manufacture, a vertical post carrying a plurality of integrally for-med outwardly extending blocks for removably receiving ends of hollow rails, the blocks being noncircular in form.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fence assembled with posts and rails according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 with portions of the rails broken away, certain parts being shown in exploded vertical elevation.

FIGS. 3-7 are sectional views on a further enlarged scale taken on lines '33, 4-4, 55, 6--6 and 77, respectively, of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of a cap for a post taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support block for a rail according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of a rail.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12 12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of one form of post according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a fence includ- 2 1 ing a plurality of vertical round posts 21-33. The several posts support rails 35-51 therebetween. One rail 34 is shown detached from the fence. Each of the posts carries a plurality of blocks such as shown at 52 extending radially outward of the posts. The blocks support the rails. The blocks interfit firictionally within the ends of the rails as best illustrated in FIGS. 2-12 to which reference is now made.

Post 21 carries two upper blocks 52 52 disposed in a horizontal plane and spaced 90 apart as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the blocks has an axial bore 53 extending between a partially cylindrical face 54 and a fiat front face 55; see block 52in FIGS. 9 and 10'. The bore 53 has an enlargement 56 adapted to receive the head [of a bolt when required. The t ronrt (face 55 is beveled at 58 all around its periphery [to facilitate fitting the end of a rail thereon. The cylindrical face 54 fits flush against the cylindrical post 21. The posts may all be fluted with corrugations 59 running vertically, to stiffen the posts. The blocks are all shown elliptical in cross section but they may have other non-circular cross-sectional shapes to prevent turning of the rails thereon. A bent rod 60 is threaded at its ends and extends through spaced holes 63, 64 in the post 21. The threaded ends of bolt 60 carries nuts 66 which securely but removably V retain the blocks 52*, 52 on the post. The ends of nails 35 and :41 are supported on the blocks 52*, 52 in a perpendicular coplanar array. The rails are elliptical in cross section to correspond shape with the blocks. The rails 3551 are externally corrugatedat 59 to stifien them. The nails may have Earcuatte end portions 68 as best shown for rail 34 in FIGS. 2, l1 and 12. "This permits the ends of the rails to engage the'p osts and prevents turning of the posts on the 'blocks and rails.

Post 21 also has a single lower block 52 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This block is secured by a straight bolt 70 passing diametrally through the post, and nut 72. The head 71 of the bolt 70 is seated in the enlargement 56 of bore 53 in the block. The endof hollow rail 36 fits snugly on the lower block. 7

Post =22 shown in FIGS. '1, 2 and 6, carries two upper blocks 52 52? disposed in diametra lly opposed positions on the post. A straight bolt 74 secured bya nut 75 retains the bloclcs on the post. Two lower blocks 52 '52 support rails 36, 43; see FIG. 1. Straight bolt 76 and nut 77 holds the blocks 52 52 on the post as best shown in FIG. 7.

Post 23, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, carries eight blocks consisting of assemblies of four blocks each, designated 52 52 52 and 52. Blocks 52 and 52 are connected by a bent mod 78 threaded at opposite ends and passing through holes 79, 801 in the post at points separated apart. Nuts 81, 83 ion the ends of the rod hold the blocks on the post. Blocks 52 and 52 are secured by a bent rod 78 threaded at opposite ends and carrying nuts 81*, 83 The curved faces 54 of the blocks all abut the post. The upper assembly of blocks support four radially arranged rails 42, 44, 48 and 511. The lower assembly of blocks support four radially arranged rails 43, 45, 49 and 50. Rails 50 and 51 are carried by single blocks supported on vertical post 24. Nuts 72*, 72 engage stra-ight bolts 70 70 as shown in FIG. 1 in an arrangement similar to bolt "70 and nut 72 of FIG. 4. Post 30 has an assembly of only two blocks similar to the arrangement of FIG. 7 and carries only two single rails 40, 41 in horizontal alignment; see FIG. 1.

Post 29 carries the shorter rail 40 and the longer rail 39 in perpendicular horizontal disposition. The twoblock arrangement on post 29 is similar to that shown in FIG. 3. Post 28 carries the shorter rail 47 and the longer rail 39 by means of a two-block arrangement such as shown in FIG. 3. Post 32 carries two rails 48, 49 at one side and only one rail 47 in alignment with rail 48. Post is provided with two pairs of blocks. -One pair supports rails 44, 46 and the other pair supports rails 45 and 34, when rail 34 is mounted on the lower blocks 52 shown exposed in FIG. 1. Rail 37 and rail 38 are parallel to each other and carry a chain link mesh 8-5, between posts 33 and 27. A block secured by a single bolt 70 and nut 72 holds the block on post 33.

All of the posts have open upper ends which can be covered by flanged caps 86. As shown in'FIGS. 2 and 8, the caps may have depending aprons 87 which fit the open tops of the posts. Setscrews 83 may be inserted through threaded holes 89 in the posts to engage the aprons and retain the caps on the posts. The flanges 91 of the caps are larger in diameter than the posts to seat thereon.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown another post construction, in which the cylindrical post 9t is formed as a cylindrical member of plastic or composition material. Integrally formed with the post are radially extending blocks 92, 92 These blocks may be fused to the post or may be secured by cement. The blocks are shown rectangular in form, but they could be elliptical or have other noncircular form. The blocks receive rails having rectangular cross section such as shown by rails 95", 93 The blocks are beveled at 94 to facilitate insertion of the rails on the blocks. The rails may be formed of plastic material, metal or the like. Although two blocks 92*, 92 are shown in perpendicular array, there could be any desired number of blocks similar to the block arrangements described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. It is desirable that the ends 95 of the rails 93 93 be curved to fit snugly against the round posts.

A particular feature of the invention is the quick and easy manner in which the rails can be interfitted on the blocks after the posts are vertically mounted in'the ground. A fence can be assembled in a few minutes without requiring any special tools, and with a minimum of labor. The fence can be easily taken down by pulling the rails off the blocks. The several components of the fence can be manufactured and sold as separate items for assembly into a fence or fences of any desired size. The fence shown in FIG. 1 is only exemplary and is a composite structure shown to illustrate several different arrangements of posts, blocks and rails. Many other arrangements will readily occur to users depending on their fence requirements.

While -I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A fence construction, comprising a plurality of cylindrical hollow vertical posts disposed in a rectangular array, a plurality of blocks secured to the posts, certain of the blocks on the posts at corners of the array being circumferentially spaced others of the blocks on other posts intermediate the corner posts being circumferentially spaced and hollow rails supported horizontally by the blocks on the posts, each rail having opposite ends removably intenfitted on two blocks of two adjacent posts in the array, each of the blocks and rails being elliptical in cross section to prevent turning of the rails on the blocks, each of the blocks having a beveled edge to facilitate insertion of an end of one of the rails thereon, each of the blocks having a through bore between opposite faces thereof, bores of adjacent blocks adapted to receive a bent threaded fastening member constituting part of an assembly to secure the blocks to a post, one face of each block being cylindrically curved to abut a post, said ends of the rails being arcuateto fit flush against the posts.

2; As an article of manufacture, a fence component comprising a cylindrical hollow post, said post having holes spaced circumferentially 90 apart, a bent rod extending through a pair of adjacent holes and terminating outwardly of the post, in threaded ends, a pair of blocks over the holes, said blocks having through bores, said ends of the rod extending through the bores, and nuts threaded on the ends of the rod securing the blocks to the post, said blocks having cylindrically curved faces abutting the post and preventing the blocks from turning.

on the posts, said blocks having beveled edges to facilitate fitting of ends of hollow elliptical rails on the blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,382 Darnell Nov. 19, 1889 656,314 Beerbower Aug. 21, 1900 754,389 Reinmiller Mar. 8, 1904 1,460,928 Tilden July 3, 1923 1,840,048 Michelman Jan. 5, 1932 2,242,427 Heanue May 20, 1941 

1. A FENCE CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICAL HOLLOW VERTICAL POSTS DISPOSED IN A RECTANGULAR ARRAY, A PLURALITY OF BLOCKS SECURED TO THE POSTS, CERTAIN OF THE BLOCKS ON THE POSTS AT CORNERS OF THE ARRAY BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED 90*, OTHERS OF THE BLOCKS ON OTHER POSTS INTERMEDIATE THE CORNER POSTS BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED 180*, AND HOLLOW RAILS SUPPORTED HORIZONTALLY BY THE BLOCKS ON THE POSTS, EACH RAIL HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS REMOVABLY INTERFITTED ON TWO BLOCKS OF TWO ADJACENT POSTS IN THE ARRAY, EACH OF THE BLOCKS AHD RAILS BEING ELLIPTICAL IN CROSS SECTION TO PREVENT TURNING OF THE RAILS ON THE BLOCKS, EACH OF THE BLOCKS HAVING A BEVELED EDGE TO FACILITATE INSERTION OF AN END OF ONE OF THE RAILS THEREON, EACH OF THE BLOCKS HAVING A THROUGH BORE BETWEEN OPPOSITE FACES THEREOF, BORES OF ADJACENT BLOCKS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BENT THREADED FASTENING MEMBER CONSTITUTING PART OF AN ASSEMBLY TO SECURE THE BLOCKS TO A POST, ONE FACE OF EACH BLOCK BEING CYLINDRICALLY CURVED TO ABUT A POST, SAID ENDS OF THE RAILS BEING ARCUATE TO FIT FLUSH AGAINST THE POSTS. 